Musical Chairs
Jen Knox
Indie Memoir/YA
[rating: 5/5]
Available in…
• Mobi/Kindle
… from…
• Amazon
• MobiPocket
Also in paperback
Some time ago, Jen Knox and I swapped memoirs. She sent me a copy of Musical Chairs, which explores her family’s history of mental health diagnoses, her years of strip-dancing, alcoholism, and estrangement, and her struggle for reconciliation. (That’s from the cover.)
I also sent her a copy of Love through the Eyes of an Idiot. In full disclosure, just as I had started reading her book, Jen sent me an email about mine:
I finally posted my review of your delightful book. Oh how it made me remember how lucky I am to have found Chris after all the relationships (if you can call them that) that came before him. He thanks you. I thank you, for writing a great read.
Truthfully, I’m gratified that Jen enjoyed my book. And I did really want to like hers as well— I always want to like a book from a fellow author, and it upsets me when I don’t. But I will tell you exactly what problems I had with Musical Chairs:
-
I ran across numerous line-editing issues, including misspelled words, bad punctuation (like ending a sentence with a comma, in at least two places), and sentences that made no sense in context. The best typo I found on page 152, where Jen wrote about working at the bookstore: “As I cleared dust from a self in the psychology section…” So, was that an ego or an id? (Ba dum bum.)
-
Some details were missing from spots in the story where I would naturally expect them, popping up as surprises elsewhere. For example, all the time Jen was staying with Miss Sarah and her daughter (in the chapter entitled “Miss Sarah”), I thought Sarah was a white, single mother. It was only much later in the book that I was told that Sarah (or at least her daughter) had darker skin, that she was married to a Latino who had treated Jen rudely, and that she had some pretty bizarre racial ideas.
-
Jen begins with a panic attack, and she concludes as the panic attacks disappear… I think. I have nothing against waxing eloquent, as she did in the epilogue; I’m just not sure how she concluded the story. (But otherwise the epilogue did leave me feeling uplifted and satisfied.)
All of my complaints were counterbalanced, however, by the fact that I literally couldn’t put the damn book down! That’s why I’ve been absent this week. I blew through the entire thing in a little over a day, immersing myself in her story every moment I could. Really, no joke, no exaggeration: I read until I got tired; then I napped, woke up, and continued where I left off; lather, rinse, repeat.
Truthfully, before I started the book, I half expected a melodramatic pity party for a life beset by personal tragedy and self-destruction. On the contrary, Jen drew me into her story, the story of a girl I could hardly believe existed.
At one point, I reclined in a hot bath with Jen’s book in one hand and a cup of Earl Grey in the other. I looked at the cup, a commemorative mug, dated November 20, 1994, for the centennial anniversary of the facility at which my Beloved interned. I suddenly realized that at that very time, Jen had run away from home, 15 years old, and was living with her 19-year-old boyfriend. My Beloved was about to launch her career, and during the same autumn, Jen was about to launch herself into boyfriends and sex and statutory rape and the real thing, erotic dances for money, fights and alcohol and the battle for control and delusions and psychosis and abandonment— But through it all, Jen seemed so… normal to me. I genuinely sympathized with her, felt for her in her quest, desired to reach out to her and provide what I saw she was missing in her life. And I smiled when she finally began to find it.
This is the reason I read independent memoirs, to meet people I might never otherwise know, through them to live experiences I could never otherwise fathom, and to win victories I would never otherwise have even pursued. And Musical Chairs generously filled that need.
-TimK
|
Musical Chairs |
Available in… |
I do agree with all the ideas you’ve presented to your post.
They are very convincing and will definitely work.
Still, the posts are too brief for starters.
May you please extend them a little from next time?
Thank you for the post.
ufc 330 tickets: ufc 330 fight card – ufc fight night
Эта статья подробно расскажет о процессе выздоровления, который включает в себя эмоциональную, физическую и психологическую реабилитацию. Мы обсуждаем значимость поддержки и наличие профессиональных программ. Читатели узнают, как строить новую жизнь и не возвращаться к старым привычкам.
Детальнее – нарколог на дом круглосуточно
Hey There. I discovered your weblog the usage of msn. That
is a very well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more
of your useful information. Thank you for the post.
I’ll certainly comeback.
Публикация посвящена жизненным историям людей, успешно справившихся с зависимостью. Мы покажем, что выход есть, и он начинается с первого шага — принятия проблемы и желания измениться.
Практические советы ждут тебя – капельницы от похмелья в Курске
Villa for Sale in Ajman new dubai project 2 3 star hotels in deirakensington real estate dubaiapartment for rent dubai jumeirah
В новых платформах появляется всё больше инструментов для развлечения, и иногда трудно выбрать, что попробовать первым. Поделитесь, какие форматы вам нравятся: стримы с интерактивом, какие настройки помогают организовать атмосферу, и какие баги стоит учитывать. Также полезно обсудить, как интегрировать голос, видео и мини-игры — подробнее по dragon money casino — это поможет найти новые идеи без лишней рекламы.
Wow! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic
but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
В этой статье рассматриваются различные аспекты избавления от зависимости, включая физические и психологические методы. Мы обсудим поддержку, мотивацию и стратегии, которые помогут в процессе выздоровления. Читатели узнают, как преодолеть трудности и двигаться к новой жизни без зависимости.
Более того — здесь – анонимное лечение алкоголиков
Привет! Давайте обсудить оригинальные подходы к сетевому общению. Расскажите, какие платформы и форматы вам интересны, какие фишки помогают завлечь аудиторию. Можно поделиться практикой, примерами и идеями, а также обсудить технические и творческие сложности. Для примера оставлю ссылку онлайн казино на реальные деньги и буду рад любым комментариям.
Heya! I realize this is sort of off-topic however I needed to ask.
Does operating a well-established website such as yours take a
large amount of work? I’m brand new to running a
blog however I do write in my diary daily. I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my personal experience and thoughts online.
Please let me know if you have any kind of suggestions or tips for new aspiring blog owners.
Appreciate it!
Excellent article. I definitely appreciate this site. Continue the good work!
Никаких тихушек нет, заказывай ,получай, радуйся!!! купить кокаин
Amazing! Its actually amazing paragraph, I have got
much clear idea regarding from this article.
Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m
not seeing very good results. If you know of any please share.
Cheers!
Эта публикация посвящена актуальным вопросам современной медицины и здравоохранения. Мы обсудим новейшие технологии диагностики и лечения, а также их влияние на продолжительность и качество жизни. Читатель найдет здесь информацию о научных исследованиях и перспективных разработках, доступно изложенную для широкой аудитории.
Дополнительно читайте здесь – kostroma clinica plus
В этой статье рассматриваются различные аспекты избавления от зависимости, включая физические и психологические методы. Мы обсудим поддержку, мотивацию и стратегии, которые помогут в процессе выздоровления. Читатели узнают, как преодолеть трудности и двигаться к новой жизни без зависимости.
Продолжить чтение – наркология клиника
Howdy very nice site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds
also? I am glad to search out a lot of useful information right here
in the put up, we want develop extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing.
. . . . .
2 Bedroom Apartment In Dubai dubai property planning body reuters1 bedroom apartment hotel stay in dubaifuture of real estate market in dubai
http://ufc-330.com/# ufc fight night
Excellent article. Keep writing such kind of information on your site.
Im really impressed by it.
Hey there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and in my view recommend to my friends.
I am confident they’ll be benefited from this website.
Karaoke equipment maintenance is essential for sound quality.
Karaoke nights thrive when performers support each other..
how to create a karaoke version of any song – http://WWW.Careerzone.Ny.gov –
ufc 330 fight card: ufc 330 tickets – ufc 330 tickets
Thanks for sharing such a good idea, article is pleasant, thats
why i have read it completely
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this web site before but after going through some of
the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m
definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!
Excellent blog you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours nowadays.
I really appreciate people like you! Take care!!
Hey there, You’ve done an excellent job. I’ll certainly digg it and
personally suggest to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from
this site.
В этой заметке мы представляем шаги, которые помогут в процессе преодоления зависимостей. Рассматриваются стратегии поддержки и чек-листы для тех, кто хочет сделать первый шаг к выздоровлению. Наша цель — вдохновить читателей на положительные изменения и поддержать их в трудных моментах.
Только факты! – наркологическая клиника в костроме
Thanks for some other fantastic post. The place else could anyone get
that kind of info in such an ideal manner of writing?
I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the search for such information.
Everyone loves what you guys tend to be up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my personal blogroll.
Ам 1к15 сделал,слабоват получился,приходится забивать больше(я нормально прикуренный просто,JWH 250,203 1к5 курил обычно последнее время):(,а вот 2с-р ухлестал,не мог понять,где я,в реальности или во сне:crazy: купить кокаин
I for all time emailed this weblog post page to all my contacts,
for the reason that if like to read it then my friends will too.
ufc 330 tickets: ufc 330 – Islam Makhachev
ufc 330 fight card: islam makhachev ufc – ufc 330 start time
2 Bedroom Townhouse for Sale in Dubai 1 bhk in dubai sports citydubai property buying feesop real estate company in dubai
Admiring the time and energy you put into your site and in depth
information you present. It’s nice to come across a blog every once
in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Great read!
I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
В статье рассматриваются различные стратегии борьбы с зависимостями, включая проверенные методы и реальные истории успеха. Читатель узнает, какие подходы наиболее эффективны и как начать путь к выздоровлению.
Запросить дополнительные данные – круглосуточная наркологическая помощь
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your blog.
You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely
love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Regards!
[…] расходы и форсирует выполнение поручений. Дополнительная информация дает возможность организациям сохраняться […]
Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice
from an established blog. Is it very difficult to set
up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast.
I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start.
Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Many thanks
Эта статья подробно расскажет о процессе выздоровления, который включает в себя эмоциональную, физическую и психологическую реабилитацию. Мы обсуждаем значимость поддержки и наличие профессиональных программ. Читатели узнают, как строить новую жизнь и не возвращаться к старым привычкам.
Углубить понимание вопроса – капельницы от похмелья в Курске
If some one wants to be updated with most up-to-date technologies therefore he
must be pay a quick visit this website and be up to
date every day.
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem together with your
site in internet explorer, may test this? IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a big component to
other folks will pass over your fantastic writing because of this problem.
Wow, this post is good, my younger sister is analyzing these kinds of things, therefore I am going to tell her.
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday.
It will always be interesting to read through articles from other writers and use something from their sites.
Real estate business for sale in dubai 4 bedroom Villas for rent in Arabian Ranches 2Aeternitas Towerfully furnished apartments for rent in dubai
Сам прикинь, меня пёрло почти купить кокаин
ufc fight night: ufc fight night – ufc 330 start time